Namibia has an impressive network of Protected Areas (PAs) that forms the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation across the country and represents an important drawcard for the tourism industry nationally. The 22 PAs cover 17 per cent of Namibia’s total area and provide protection to some of the country's most important habitats and species. It is the responsibility of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) to manage and develop PAs and their critical habitats and animal species in order to preserve biological diversity and ecosystems for use by present and future generations of Namibians, to generate global benefits, and to maintain water quality. Management of fire is one of the challenges in Protected Areas and this Fire Management Strategy for Namibia's Protected Areas represents a framework to develop and implement programmes in the PA network to address this challenge.